May 8, 2019

Actions versus words by Gary Rose




Sam Elliott: A “Man’s man”, if I ever saw one (in the movies at least). The kind of person that says what he means and means what he says. In short, the rugged cowboy type. I can’t imagine him saying a great deal, but when he speaks, people listen!

I wish the world was full of straightforward people, but it is not. Sometimes people talk a good game, but when it comes time to deliver – NOTHING. Unfortunately, many people say that they are Christians, but their lives say a different message. And, then there is that passage from the book of James…


James 2 (World English Bible)
Jam 2:14, What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?
Jam 2:15, And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,
Jam 2:16, and one of you tells them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled;” and yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?
Jam 2:17, Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
Jam 2:18, Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
Jam 2:19, You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.
Jam 2:20, But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?
Jam 2:21, Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
Jam 2:22, You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected;
Jam 2:23, and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;”* and he was called the friend of God.
Jam 2:24, You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith.
Jam 2:25, In like manner wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
Jam 2:26, For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.


To me, if you love God, you will do something about it. What each person may do will probably differ, but they will do something. Something that will have an effect in this world, for Christianity was never meant to be just a religion of just contemplation. Talk is cheap: Christian, practice what you preach. Jesus did; follow HIM!

Bible Reading May 8, 9 by Gary Rose



Bible Reading  May 8, 9 

World English Bible

May 8
Deuteronomy 31, 32

Deu 31:1 Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.
Deu 31:2 He said to them, I am one hundred twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: and Yahweh has said to me, You shall not go over this Jordan.
Deu 31:3 Yahweh your God, he will go over before you; he will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before you, as Yahweh has spoken.
Deu 31:4 Yahweh will do to them as he did to Sihon and to Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land; whom he destroyed.
Deu 31:5 Yahweh will deliver them up before you, and you shall do to them according to all the commandment which I have commanded you.
Deu 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, don't be afraid, nor be scared of them: for Yahweh your God, he it is who does go with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you.
Deu 31:7 Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of good courage: for you shall go with this people into the land which Yahweh has sworn to their fathers to give them; and you shall cause them to inherit it.
Deu 31:8 Yahweh, he it is who does go before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you, neither forsake you: don't be afraid, neither be dismayed.
Deu 31:9 Moses wrote this law, and delivered it to the priests the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and to all the elders of Israel.
Deu 31:10 Moses commanded them, saying, At the end ofevery seven years, in the set time of the year of release, in the feast of tents,
Deu 31:11 when all Israel is come to appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he shall choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
Deu 31:12 Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and your foreigner who is within your gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear Yahweh your God, and observe to do all the words of this law;
Deu 31:13 and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Yahweh your God, as long as you live in the land where you go over the Jordan to possess it.
Deu 31:14 Yahweh said to Moses, Behold, your days approach that you must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the Tent of Meeting, that I may commission him. Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the Tent of Meeting.
Deu 31:15 Yahweh appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud: and the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the Tent.
Deu 31:16 Yahweh said to Moses, Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers; and this people will rise up, and play the prostitute after the strange gods of the land, where they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
Deu 31:17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come on them; so that they will say in that day, Haven't these evils come on us because our God is not among us?
Deu 31:18 I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evil which they shall have worked, in that they are turned to other gods.
Deu 31:19 Now therefore write you this song for you, and teach you it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
Deu 31:20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and grown fat; then will they turn to other gods, and serve them, and despise me, and break my covenant.
Deu 31:21 It shall happen, when many evils and troubles are come on them, that this song shall testify before them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they frame this day, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.
Deu 31:22 So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.
Deu 31:23 He commissioned Joshua the son of Nun, and said, Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land which I swore to them: and I will be with you.
Deu 31:24 It happened, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
Deu 31:25 that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, saying,
Deu 31:26 Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.
Deu 31:27 For I know your rebellion, and your stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against Yahweh; and how much more after my death?
Deu 31:28 Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to witness against them.
Deu 31:29 For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will happen to you in the latter days; because you will do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.
Deu 31:30 Moses spoke in the ears of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were finished.

Deu 32:1 Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak. Let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
Deu 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain. My speech shall condense as the dew, as the small rain on the tender grass, as the showers on the herb.
Deu 32:3 For I will proclaim the name of Yahweh. Ascribe greatness to our God!
Deu 32:4 The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice: a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Deu 32:5 They have dealt corruptly with him, they are not his children, it is their blemish. They are a perverse and crooked generation.
Deu 32:6 Do you thus requite Yahweh, foolish people and unwise? Isn't he your father who has bought you? He has made you, and established you.
Deu 32:7 Remember the days of old. Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you.
Deu 32:8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the children of men, he set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel.
Deu 32:9 For Yahweh's portion is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
Deu 32:10 He found him in a desert land, in the waste howling wilderness. He surrounded him. He cared for him. He kept him as the apple of his eye.
Deu 32:11 As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bore them on his feathers.
Deu 32:12 Yahweh alone led him. There was no foreign god with him.
Deu 32:13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth. He ate the increase of the field. He caused him to suck honey out of the rock, oil out of the flinty rock;
Deu 32:14 Butter of the herd, and milk of the flock, with fat of lambs, rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the finest of the wheat. Of the blood of the grape you drank wine.
Deu 32:15 But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then he forsook God who made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Deu 32:16 They moved him to jealousy with strange gods. They provoked him to anger with abominations.
Deu 32:17 They sacrificed to demons, which were no God, to gods that they didn't know, to new gods that came up of late, which your fathers didn't dread.
Deu 32:18 Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful, and have forgotten God who gave you birth.
Deu 32:19 Yahweh saw it, and abhorred them, because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters.
Deu 32:20 He said, I will hide my face from them. I will see what their end shall be; for they are a very perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness.
Deu 32:21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God. They have provoked me to anger with their vanities. I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people. I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Deu 32:22 For a fire is kindled in my anger, Burns to the lowest Sheol, Devours the earth with its increase, and sets the foundations of the mountains on fire.
Deu 32:23 I will heap evils on them. I will spend my arrows on them.
Deu 32:24 They shall be wasted with hunger, and devoured with burning heat and bitter destruction. I will send the teeth of animals on them, With the poison of crawling things of the dust.
Deu 32:25 Outside the sword shall bereave, and in the chambers, terror; on both young man and virgin, The suckling with the gray-haired man.
Deu 32:26 I said, I would scatter them afar. I would make the memory of them to cease from among men;
Deu 32:27 were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy, lest their adversaries should judge wrongly, lest they should say, Our hand is exalted, Yahweh has not done all this.
Deu 32:28 For they are a nation void of counsel. There is no understanding in them.
Deu 32:29 Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
Deu 32:30 How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and Yahweh had delivered them up?
Deu 32:31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
Deu 32:32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, of the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are grapes of gall, Their clusters are bitter.
Deu 32:33 Their wine is the poison of serpents, The cruel venom of asps.
Deu 32:34 Isn't this laid up in store with me, sealed up among my treasures?
Deu 32:35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense, at the time when their foot slides; for the day of their calamity is at hand. The things that are to come on them shall make haste.
Deu 32:36 For Yahweh will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that theirpower is gone, There is none remaining, shut up or left at large.
Deu 32:37 He will say, Where are their gods, The rock in which they took refuge;
Deu 32:38 Which ate the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you! Let them be your protection.
Deu 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, There is no god with me. I kill, and I make alive. I wound, and I heal. There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.
Deu 32:40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, And say, As I live forever,
Deu 32:41 if I whet my glittering sword, My hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to my adversaries, and will recompense those who hate me.
Deu 32:42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood. My sword shall devour flesh with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the head of the leaders of the enemy.
Deu 32:43 Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants. He will render vengeance to his adversaries, And will make expiation for his land, for his people.
Deu 32:44 Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun.
Deu 32:45 Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel;
Deu 32:46 He said to them, Set your heart to all the words which I testify to you this day, which you shall command your children to observe to do, even all the words of this law.
Deu 32:47 For it is no vain thing for you; because it is your life, and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land, where you go over the Jordan to possess it.
Deu 32:48 Yahweh spoke to Moses that same day, saying,
Deu 32:49 Go up into this mountain of Abarim, to Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and see the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel for a possession;
Deu 32:50 and die on the mountain where you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor, and was gathered to his people:
Deu 32:51 because you trespassed against me in the midst of the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you didn't sanctify me in the midst of the children of Israel.
Deu 32:52 For you shall see the land before you; but you shall not go there into the land which I give the children of Israel.

May 9
Deuteronomy 33, 34

Deu 33:1 This is the blessing, with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
Deu 33:2 He said, Yahweh came from Sinai, And rose from Seir to them. He shone forth from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones. At his right hand was a fiery law for them.
Deu 33:3 Yes, he loves the people. All his saints are in your hand. They sat down at your feet; Everyone shall receive of your words.
Deu 33:4 Moses commanded us a law, An inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.
Deu 33:5 He was king in Jeshurun, When the heads of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together.
Deu 33:6 Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few.
Deu 33:7 This is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, Yahweh, the voice of Judah. Bring him in to his people. With his hands he contended for himself. You shall be a help against his adversaries.
Deu 33:8 Of Levi he said, Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one, whom you proved at Massah, with whom you strove at the waters of Meribah;
Deu 33:9 who said of his father, and of his mother, I have not seen him; Neither did he acknowledge his brothers, Nor did he know his own children: For they have observed your word, and keep your covenant.
Deu 33:10 They shall teach Jacob your ordinances, and Israel your law. They shall put incense before you, and whole burnt offering on your altar.
Deu 33:11 Yahweh, bless his substance. Accept the work of his hands. Strike through the hips of those who rise up against him, of those who hate him, that they not rise again.
Deu 33:12 Of Benjamin he said, The beloved of Yahweh shall dwell in safety by him. He covers him all the day long. He dwells between his shoulders.
Deu 33:13 Of Joseph he said, His land is blessed by Yahweh, for the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, for the deep that couches beneath,
Deu 33:14 for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, for the precious things of the growth of the moons,
Deu 33:15 for the chief things of the ancient mountains, for the precious things of the everlasting hills,
Deu 33:16 for the precious things of the earth and its fullness, the good will of him who lived in the bush. Let the blessing come on the head of Joseph, On the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.
Deu 33:17 The firstborn of his herd, majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he shall push the peoples all of them, even the ends of the earth: They are the ten thousands of Ephraim. They are the thousands of Manasseh.
Deu 33:18 Of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; and Issachar, in your tents.
Deu 33:19 They shall call the peoples to the mountain. There they will offer sacrifices of righteousness, for they shall draw out the abundance of the seas, the hidden treasures of the sand.
Deu 33:20 Of Gad he said, He who enlarges Gad is blessed. He dwells as a lioness, and tears the arm, yes, the crown of the head.
Deu 33:21 He provided the first part for himself, for there was the lawgiver's portion reserved. He came withthe heads of the people. He executed the righteousness of Yahweh, His ordinances with Israel.
Deu 33:22 Of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's cub that leaps out of Bashan.
Deu 33:23 Of Naphtali he said, Naphtali, satisfied with favor, full of the blessing of Yahweh, Possess the west and the south.
Deu 33:24 Of Asher he said, Asher is blessed with children. Let him be acceptable to his brothers. Let him dip his foot in oil.
Deu 33:25 Your bars shall be iron and brass. As your days, so your strength will be.
Deu 33:26 There is none like God, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help, In his excellency on the skies.
Deu 33:27 The eternal God is your dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrust out the enemy from before you, and said, Destroy.
Deu 33:28 Israel dwells in safety; the fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine. Yes, his heavens drop down dew.
Deu 33:29 You are happy, Israel. Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency! Your enemies shall submit themselves to you. You shall tread on their high places.

Deu 34:1 Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. Yahweh showed him all the land of Gilead, to Dan,
Deu 34:2 and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, to the hinder sea,
Deu 34:3 and the South, and the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, to Zoar.
Deu 34:4 Yahweh said to him, This is the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, I will give it to your seed: I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.
Deu 34:5 So Moses the servant of Yahweh died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of Yahweh.
Deu 34:6 He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth Peor: but no man knows of his tomb to this day.
Deu 34:7 Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
Deu 34:8 The children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping in the mourning for Moses were ended.
Deu 34:9 Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands on him: and the children of Israel listened to him, and did as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Deu 34:10 There has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face,
Deu 34:11 in all the signs and the wonders, which Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,
Deu 34:12 and in all the mighty hand, and in all the great terror, which Moses worked in the sight of all Israel.


May 8, 9
Luke 21

Luk 21:1 He looked up, and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury.
Luk 21:2 He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins.
Luk 21:3 He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them,
Luk 21:4 for all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on."
Luk 21:5 As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said,
Luk 21:6 "As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down."
Luk 21:7 They asked him, "Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?"
Luk 21:8 He said, "Watch out that you don't get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is at hand.' Therefore don't follow them.
Luk 21:9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don't be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won't come immediately."
Luk 21:10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
Luk 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
Luk 21:12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name's sake.
Luk 21:13 It will turn out as a testimony for you.
Luk 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer,
Luk 21:15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.
Luk 21:16 You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death.
Luk 21:17 You will be hated by all men for my name's sake.
Luk 21:18 And not a hair of your head will perish.
Luk 21:19 "By your endurance you will win your lives.
Luk 21:20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.
Luk 21:21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the midst of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein.
Luk 21:22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Luk 21:23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people.
Luk 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Luk 21:25 There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves;
Luk 21:26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Luk 21:27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28 But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near."
Luk 21:29 He told them a parable. "See the fig tree, and all the trees.
Luk 21:30 When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near.
Luk 21:31 Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Luk 21:32 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished.
Luk 21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.
Luk 21:34 "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.
Luk 21:35 For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth.
Luk 21:36 Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Luk 21:37 Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet.
Luk 21:38 All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him. 

How can one identify the true church? by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/identify.html



How can one identify the true church?

Thousands of denominations claim to follow Christ. They cannot all be right, since they have conflicting doctrines and practices. Someone who believes in Jesus is faced with the challenge of identifying His church. What biblical characteristics distinguish Christ’s church from human denominations? What are the distinguishing marks of the church of Christ?
The true church was established by Christ and He is its only Head.
Jesus said, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). A church created by someone else is not Christ’s church. This excludes many groups from being the true church. Sometimes they even wear the name of their founder.
Christ is the only head of the true church. The Father put all things under His feet “and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body” (Ephesians 1:22, 23).
Referring to the universality of His church, Jesus told the people of Israel: “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16).
A church with some other head, is not the church of Christ. This also excludes many religious groups.
The true church was established at Jerusalem in the first century.
Peter preached the good news about salvation through Christ on the Day of Pentecost after His resurrection. “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41). A church that was established at some other time, or at some other place, is not the church of Christ. Again, this excludes many religious groups. Sometimes they even wear the name of a city or country of origin.
The true church was established by Christ at Jerusalem in the first century. He is its head. Churches established by someone else, someplace else, or at some other time, cannot be the church of Christ.
Yet, it is not sufficient for some church to claim that Christ is its head, or that it was established at Jerusalem in the first century. This must also be true. How can we know if it is true?
The true church preserves the original faith by following the Scriptures.
Jude wrote: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The Christian faith was delivered once and for all in the first century. Any church with a set of beliefs different from the original faith, is not the church of Christ.
The true church follows the Scriptures. Paul emphasized this when he wrote to Timothy: “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:13-17). A church that does not follow the Scriptures, is not the Lord’s church.
The doctrine of Christ is normative for the true church.
It does not go “beyond what is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6). “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9). A church that goes beyond what is written, that does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, is not the church of Christ.
The true church is known for its love.
It keeps itself in the love of God (Jude 21) by obeying His commandments (1 John 5:3). The true church abides in love (John 4:16), walks in love (Ephesians 5:2) and speaks the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). True Christians love one another. Jesus said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34, 35).
The true church worships in spirit and truth.
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). The worship of the Lord’s church is from the heart and is according to the New Testament.
Condemning superficial worship, God said: “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:6, 7).
The true church preaches the original gospel.
Because even in the first century some were already preaching a different gospel, Paul warned the Galatian churches: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9). A church that preaches a message different from the original gospel, is not the church of Christ.
What is the gospel?
Christ’s death on the cross for the sins of the world, and His resurrection from the dead, are the facts of the gospel. Paul wrote: “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Jesus is “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29), “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
One must obey the gospel to be added to the true church.1
“And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).
Jesus said: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).
“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation” (Romans 10:9, 10).
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
We are striving to be a church of Christ, to be a congregation of God’s people, to serve Him in spirit and truth according to His word.
How is one added to the true church?
If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for your sins, that He rose the third day, if you repent (if you are sorry for your sins and are determined to dedicate your life to God), if you confess your faith, and if you are baptized for the remission of sins, you will be added to Christ’s church, His body. Then, with us, you too can strive for the faith, once and for all delivered to the saints. Amen.
Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc.,
Publishers unless indicated otherwise.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Endnote
1 See 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17.

Published in The Old Paths Archive

http://www.oldpaths.com

Attributes of God (Part 1) What’s it all about? by Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1676

Attributes of God (Part 1) What’s it all about?

I recently had a song floating around in my head which dates back to the late 60’s. As you can see I’m dating myself a bit. It was written by Burt Bacharach to promote a movie made in 1966 called Alfie. The Song became a major hit after it was sung live by Diane Warwick’s on the 39th Academy Awardsceremony television broadcast in 1967.
The part of the song that keeps coming to mind is the first few lines of the song which goes:
What’s it all about Alfie           Is it just for the moment we live?
What’s it all about  when you sort it out, Alfie?
Are we meant to take more than we give?   Or are we meant to be kind?…
The part that says, ”What’s it all about” seem like a question that many of us keep asking our self. Is it all about living for the moment? Is it all about taking more than we give? Or is it all about being kind?
What’s this life all about???
Later the song goes on to say,
As sure as I believe there’s a heaven above Alfie,                                                
I know there’s something much more Something even non-believers can believe in.    I believe in love, Alfie       Without true love we just exist, Alfie Until you find the love you’ve missed           You’re nothing, Alfie’
Is that what this life is all about, experiencing love; experiencing that feeling that emotion? Or is there something more, something even more meaningful. Are we designed even for a greater purpose.
In this new series of lesson I would like to touch on this topic; or What’s it all about.
In this first lesson I would like to touch on the fact it’s not all about us, you and I are not the center of the universe, rather I say, it’s ALL about God. It’s all about Him and His purpose and design. And that’s where I want to begin.
Someone once said, “The wise man comes to God without saying a word and stands in awe of Him. It may seem a hopeless endeavor, to gaze at the invisible God. But Romans 1:20 tells us that through creation, we see His “invisible qualities” and “divine nature.” “ (Francis Chan)
And this is where I want to begin. Our God is an awesome and unimaginably powerful being. I hope to help you understand this fact a little better by showing a glimpse of His mighty creative power as seen in the following video to help you see what I am talking about.
We live in amongst a group of stars called the Milky Way Galaxy. Our Sun is just one star, part of some 400 billion stars that make up our galaxy. Scientist now believe that there are100 billion or more galaxies out there in space, some smaller than ours, and some bigger made up of close to a trillion stars. Scripture has revealed to us that He has created it all and knows each star by name. And not only that, we read that He continues hold all things together. Col. 1:15-16 says“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
We cannot possibly comprehend that kind of ability or the power it take to do that, but our Lord has that ability and power. Today I want you to see how majestic, how awesome, and how powerful our God is. But we can’t even do that because that kind of power is way beyond our comprehension. To be able to create all things seen and unseen, from the largest galaxy with all it star to the smallest particle of matter, smaller than atoms themselves. Even creating those unseen things beyond our own dimension of reality is mind boggling and beyond our imagination. And if God made all of this, how big or vast is He personally? Before He made the universe as we know it, what else was there? Again, that’s way beyond us.
But one thing you may be able to do today is, you may begin to see how small and insignificant we actually are in the grand scheme of things compare to what’s out there in the universe. But even then it’s hard to comprehend that. Isaiah 55:9 says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
After seeing images like this, if then we ask, “What’s it all about”, we should realize that you and I are not the center of the universe. It’s not all about you or me or what we want, or what we think we deserve, rather it all about God. We are hardly a speck in all creation.
What’s it all about? It’s all about God and His purpose and design.
And shame on us when we fail to recognize or honor Him for who He is or with arrogance think we can demand or deserve things from such a powerful awesome being.
But even though we are small compared to everything else out there, God’s message to us in the Bible is that even though we are smaller than many other things He has created, we are not insignificant.
When He made us, in many ways we are unique and special to Him. Because when He created us, we are told that He chose to make us in His own image. We obviously mean something to Him because chose to step out of His glorious realm, empty Himself of so much and become a man and live amongst us, and then offered up His mortal life by dying on that cross for our sins which would have prevented us from coming to Him after this earthly life.
His power is beyond measure. His ability to created beauty is mind boggling and moves our soul to praise Him. In Romans 1:20 Paul wrote saying20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
I am going to discuss this topic a little more next week but I want to close this lesson with another video showing His beautiful creation a little closer to home.
From this day forward I pray that if you ask yourself, ‘What’s it all about?’, you will know that it’s all about God and His divine will. I hope that you will begin to see how God has made you, and that you are part of His creation and plan, and what a honor and privilege that is. He is worthy of worship!
And even though you may not understand what your particular purpose is,     I hope that you would find comfort and hope in your creator, in His infinite power, and might and wisdom, knowing that He loves you. In Eph. 1 Paul praises God with these words and thoughts, All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.”      
If you wnat to View a beautiful music video click on the following link:
For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566
All comments can be emailed to: bfronzek@gmail.com